FPL GW3: Best Fixture Runs and Teams to Target
Gameweek 3 brings one of the clearest fixture swings of the early FPL season. Manchester City, Newcastle, Liverpool, Brighton and Nottingham Forest all have favorable upcoming runs, making them the teams I'm targeting for transfers, Wildcards and Free Hits from GW3 onward.
Set your squad before the Gameweek 3 deadline. Using RotoWire's Fixture Difficulty Ranker, which evaluates upcoming matches based on league position, goals scored and goals conceded, here are the best teams to target heading into Gameweek 3 and beyond.
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Best FPL Teams to Target from GW3
| Team | Upcoming Run | Best Targets |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester City | Coventry, Sunderland, Ipswich | Haaland, Cherki, Foden, Gvardiol |
| Newcastle | Bournemouth, Coventry, Hull | Wissa, Thiaw, Hall |
| Liverpool | Ipswich, Fulham, Bournemouth | Szoboszlai, Isak, van Dijk |
| Brighton | Leeds, Coventry | Gross, De Cuyper, Verbruggen |
| Nottingham Forest | Spurs, Coventry | Gibbs-White, Williams |
For individual player order rather than team schedules, see our FPL Gameweek 3 Rankings.
Manchester City
Man City are the main reason this is such a chip-heavy week. Coventry at home makes Gameweek 3 one of the most anticipated fixtures of the early season, and Erling Haaland is the obvious focal point. Over 70% owned and borderline impossible to ignore, he has Coventry, Sunderland and Ipswich in his next three home fixtures at the Etihad. Getting him in now rather than chasing him later at a higher price is the smart play, and the captaincy conversation begins and ends with him this week.
Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden are high-ceiling punts for those on a Free Hit, Elliot Anderson remains an interesting cheaper option for defensive contributions, while Nico O'Reilly and Josko Gvardiol provide the reliable defensive routes into the City setup.
Newcastle
Newcastle have been impressive across the opening two gameweeks, picking up four points from tough fixtures against Liverpool and Spurs. Yoane Wissa is one of the most exciting picks of the week. With Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes both gone, he looks set to take on penalty duties, and with Osula injured he has been playing the full 90 minutes consistently. Newcastle look rejuvenated under their new manager and Wissa is very much at the heart of it.
Malick Thiaw and Lewis Hall both provide reliable routes into a defense that faces Bournemouth at home this week, followed by Coventry and Hull in Gameweeks 5 and 6.
Liverpool
The fixtures continue to look strong for Liverpool. Ipswich this week, fresh off conceding five to Manchester United, followed by Fulham and Bournemouth. Dominik Szoboszlai is the standout pick, nailed for minutes, on set pieces, on penalties and consistent for defensive contributions. A genuine set-and-forget hold for the foreseeable future.
For those on a Free Hit, Alexander Isak is a compelling differential with Ipswich the opponents. The Liverpool defense remains shaky and is probably best avoided for now.
Check the latest Premier League injuries and predicted lineups before making transfers.
Brighton
Leeds and Coventry in the next two gameweeks make Brighton an appealing targeting option. Pascal Gross is the obvious midfield pick, a reliable accumulator with penalty potential and strong set-piece involvement. Diego Gomez is the cheaper alternative for those wanting a budget midfield enabler.
Maxim De Cuyper is listed as a defender but has been playing on the left wing, making him an out-of-position asset with explosive attacking potential at a low price. Bart Verbruggen is the budget goalkeeper of choice for those on a Wildcard looking for a reliable and affordable set-and-forget option between the posts.
Nottingham Forest
Forest are more of a selective target than a long-run buy, but the home matches against Tottenham and Coventry are attractive enough to make their key assets worth considering.
Morgan Gibbs-White is the standout pick. Nailed, on set pieces and on penalties, he is a strong asset to own heading into this period. Neco Williams remains a cheap and reliable defensive enabler for those looking to keep the budget flexible elsewhere.
Final Thoughts
Manchester City and Newcastle offer the strongest immediate fixture upside, while Liverpool and Brighton provide several reliable ways to attack favorable schedules. Nottingham Forest are more of a selective target around their home fixtures. Rather than chasing Gameweek 2 points, prioritize secure minutes, defined roles and players whose teams have multiple good fixtures ahead.
